The officers placed Richard under arrest and led him out of the mansion.
Dominic stood alone in the quiet center of the white marble hall again.
The heavy dark feeling that had filled the house for years was gone.
He looked over at the doorway where Clara and her little daughter stood.
The housekeeper was holding her apron nervously in her hands while waiting quietly.
She was terrified that she would still lose her job over the incident.
Dominic walked slowly across the polished floor toward the young brave girl.
He knelt down on one knee right in front of the little child.
Dominic: What is your name, brave little girl?
Maya: My name is Maya, sir, am I in trouble?
Dominic: You are not in trouble at all, you saved my life.
Dominic looked up at Clara with a warm and gentle smile on his face.
Dominic: Clara, you and your daughter will never have to worry again.
Clara: Thank you so much, Mr. Val, you are very kind!
Dominic: I am establishing a permanent trust fund for Maya's future education today.
Maya: Does that mean I can buy more comic books now?
Dominic laughed out loud for the first time in three long painful years.
He stood up straight without using his wooden walking stick for support now.
The sun was shining brightly through the high stained glass windows above him.
He was finally free to live his own life and run his business again.
A simple act of innocence had broken a dark plot of pure greed.
He walked out into the warm green garden to welcome his bright future.